MLB Player News
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Harrison Bader CF | PHI
Phillies' Harrison Bader: Absent from Game 3 lineup
Bader (groin) isn't in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Wednesday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Bader was a game-time decision heading into Game 3 due to a groin injury he suffered in Game 1, and the Phillies have officially decided to keep the speedy outfielder on the bench for another day. He picked up a single off the bench in Game 2 and will likely be available to serve as a pinch hitter again Wednesday.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: In Game 3 lineup
Smith (hand) will start at catcher and bat fifth against the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLDS on Wednesday.
Smith's fractured right hand kept him on the bench for the Dodgers' first four postseason games, though he was able to deliver a two-run single off the bench in Game 2 on Monday. He'll now return to the starting nine and provide the Dodgers with another power bat while the team looks to punch its ticket to the NLCS.
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Roki Sasaki P | LAD
Dodgers' Roki Sasaki: Gets endorsement as team's closer
Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Sasaki is "definitely the primary option now" to close games for the Dodgers, though the skipper noted that the rookie's availability will be contingent on his workload, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. "We have to win X amount of games [to secure a championship], and he's not going to close every game," Roberts said of Sasaki. "It's just not feasible, so, you've got to use other guys."
Sasaki struggled to a 4.72 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 24:22 K:BB in 34.1 innings over eight starts with the Dodgers to begin the season before he landed on the injured list May 13 due to a right shoulder impingement, but he's proven to be a dynamic weapon out of the bullpen since being reinstated Sept. 24. After collecting two holds and striking out four batters over two scoreless frames in two relief outings to close out the regular season, Sasaki retired the side on 11 pitches in his lone appearance against the Reds in the wild-card round, and he's converted a pair of save chances with ease in the first two games of the NLDS versus the Phillies. Given that the bullpen had been a relative weakness for the Dodgers down the stretch, it's not too surprising that Sasaki has quickly emerged as Los Angeles' most trusted reliever after he pitched effectively in his initial appearances following his return from the IL. With Clayton Kershaw headed for retirement following the playoffs, the Dodgers presumably still envision Sasaki getting stretched back out over the winter and settling into the vacated rotation spot in 2026, but the rookie right-hander looks like he'll rank as the preferred choice for ninth-inning duties for the duration of the team's postseason run.
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Jake Bauers RF | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Drawing Game 3 start at first base
Bauers will start at first base and bat seventh Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLDS versus the Cubs.
Bauers was limited to just one pinch-hitting appearance in the first two games of the series, drawing a walk in that trip to the dish. He'll get a chance to start Wednesday against Cubs righty Jameson Taillon as the Brewers look to advance to the NLCS.
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Blake Perkins RF | MIL
Brewers' Blake Perkins: Taking seat in Game 3
Perkins is absent from the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cubs.
Perkins started in center field in Games 1 and 2, reaching base three times and driving in a run, but he'll begin Wednesday's festivities on the bench. Brandon Lockridge is starting in center field and batting eighth for the Brewers.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
Brewers' Andrew Vaughn: Absent from Game 3 lineup
Vaughn is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of NLDS versus the Cubs.
Vaughn started at first base in each of the first two games of the series, hitting a home run in Game 2 and reaching base four times across the two contests. However, he will begin Wednesday's game on the bench as the Brewers give a start to Jake Bauers at first base.
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Jackson Chourio CF | MIL
Brewers' Jackson Chourio: Back in lineup for Game 3
Chourio (hamstring) will start in left field and bat second Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cubs.
Chourio had to be removed from each of the first two games of the series with right hamstring tightness, but he's been cleared to play Wednesday as the Brewers look to close out the series. The 21-year-old will likely be under strict orders to take it easy on the basepaths. Chourio is 5-for-7 with one home run and six RBI so far in the series.
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Cade Horton P | CHC
Cubs' Cade Horton: Slated for another bullpen session
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Horton's (rib) light bullpen session Monday went well and the hurler is scheduled for another bullpen session Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The Cubs are in a 0-2 NLDS hole against the Brewers, but if they're able to come back and advance to the NLCS, Horton has a shot to rejoin the active roster as part of their rotation. Horton has been sidelined since late September after being diagnosed with a right rib fracture.
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Drey Jameson RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Drey Jameson: Returns to action in AFL
Jameson (elbow) tossed a scoreless inning of relief Tuesday during an appearance in the Arizona Fall League.
After missing the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Jameson was back to full health for the start of spring training, but he made just three appearances for Arizona and 16 in the minors before being shut down in late June when he developed a bone fragment chip in his surgically repaired elbow. Though Jameson didn't return to action before the end of the minor-league season, he avoided another procedure on his elbow and looks like he'll be in line for a normal offseason following a stellar relief appearance Tuesday. Jameson needed only eight pitches to retire the side, generating three groundballs while sporting a fastball that topped out at 99.4 miles per hour. Jameson, who maintains a spot on Arizona's 40-man roster, is expected to compete for a bullpen role with the big club this spring.
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Antonio Senzatela SP | COL
Rockies' Antonio Senzatela: Will stay in bullpen next season
The Rockies plan to keep Senzatela in a relief role next season, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Senzatela was moved from the rotation to the bullpen in late August after posting a 7.15 ERA and 61:42 K:BB over 112 innings. He was better in a long-relief role with a 3.50 ERA and 12:5 K:BB across 18 frames. The Rockies aren't chock full of rotation options, but they appear content to leave Senzatela in a low-leverage role in the final season of his five-year, $50.5 million contract.